Prometeus - Preterm Brain-Oxygenation and Metabolic EU-Sensing: Feed the Brain

普罗米修斯通过开发一种突破性的技术，实时调整葡萄糖和营养摄入，针对新生儿大脑需求，为新生儿重症监护病房（NICU）的早产儿提供个性化营养的新范式。早产婴儿的大脑极易受到新生儿早期损伤的影响，这反过来又增加了神经发育障碍的风险。提供充足的营养和氧气对大脑的正常发育和生长至关重要。然而，目前的营养策略不适合针对实时的大脑需求，并且是由预先指定的（非个性化的）营养图表驱动的，缺乏当代对大脑“健康”和代谢供应的床边监测。因此，大脑燃料需求的突然变化不能通过实时调节葡萄糖和营养供给来及时解决。Prometeus将建立三种关键脑燃料[葡萄糖、乳酸和β -羟基丁酸盐（BHB）]之间相互作用的代谢模型，以及它们对区域脑血流量（CBF）、氧饱和度（StO2）和代谢（cdro2）的影响。该模型将根据两种新型微创代谢传感系统的输入数据，为“大脑健康”提供个性化的脑营养，这两种系统分别是测量区域CBF、StO2和cmoro2的可穿戴帽，以及测量葡萄糖、乳酸和BHB的皮下小型化代谢传感器。该系统将创造一个新陈代谢的“子宫”，为早产儿的大脑提供营养。普罗米修斯将与家长专用界面并行，利用专门开发的家庭调整视觉语言，在新生儿重症监护病房入院和住院期间通知父母早产儿。普罗米修斯将大大降低欧洲和世界范围内与早产相关的残疾风险，随之而来的是不可估量的伦理、社会和经济影响。

Prometeus introduces a new-paradigm for personalized nutrition of prematurely born neonates in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), by developing a groundbreaking technology for real-time adjustment of glucose and nutrients intakes to target neonatal brain needs. The brain of a baby born prematurely is highly susceptible to early neonatal injuries that, in turn, increase the risk for neurodevelopmental disability. Provision of adequate nutrients and oxygen is essential for proper brain development and growth. However, current nutritional strategies are unfit to target real-time brain necessities, and are driven by pre-specified (non personalised) nutritional charts, in the absence of contemporary cot-side monitoring of both brain “health” and metabolic supplies. As a consequence, sudden changes of brain fuel-requirements cannot be promptly addressed by real-time adjustment of glucose and nutrients provision. Prometeus will develop a metabolic model of the interaction between the three key brain fuels [glucose, lactate and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)] and their effect on regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen saturation (StO2) and metabolism (CMRO2). The model will serve to individualize brain nutrition targeting “brain health” according to the inputs derived from two novel minimally invasive metabolic sensing systems: a wearable cap measuring regional CBF, StO2 and CMRO2 and a subcutaneous miniaturized metabolic sensor for glucose, lactate and BHB. The system will create a metabolic “womb” to feed the brain of preterm neonates. Prometeus will be paralleled by a parent-dedicated interface, exploiting a purposely developed family adjusted visual language, that will inform parents of preterm babies during their NICU admission and stay. Prometeus will dramatically reduce the risk for prematurity-associated disability in Europe and worldwide, with a consequent incalculable ethical, social and economic impact.